??? about keeping refrigerators cold

Hi,

I have a large refrigerator on a houseboat, and don't want to
replace it with a less convenient one since the vast majority
of the time it's connected to AC shore power at the dock. I
like to go out for a couple days a week, and could *greatly*
reduce the amount of time the generator runs if I can find a
good way of getting the refrigerator to stay cold longer. Are
there any good cold packs for keeping refrigerators cold,
that can be re-frozen over and over again?

Thanks for any help!
David

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 16:22:55 GMT, wrote:

I have a large refrigerator on a houseboat, and don't want to
replace it with a less convenient one since the vast majority
of the time it's connected to AC shore power at the dock. I
like to go out for a couple days a week, and could *greatly*
reduce the amount of time the generator runs if I can find a
good way of getting the refrigerator to stay cold longer. Are
there any good cold packs for keeping refrigerators cold,
that can be re-frozen over and over again?

Sent to all 5 groups, as I don't know where it started.

Yes, the blue gel packets or plastic things can be reused
indefinitely. They will reduce total storage space, though.

Also, if you freeze water or other drinks in plastic bottles, and keep
that in the refrigerator section, they will become a cold drink after
helping keep your food cold.

Combined with prefreezing some of the food, and minimizing how many
time it is opened, you should do fine for a couple of days.

For car camping, many use one cooler for food, opened only a few times
daily, and a second one for drinks, which is opened many times each
day. Keeping the coolers in the shade makes a huge difference.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Obtain Dry Ice and place in fridge.

Dave




wrote in message ...
| Hi,
|
| I have a large refrigerator on a houseboat, and don't want to
| replace it with a less convenient one since the vast majority
| of the time it's connected to AC shore power at the dock. I
| like to go out for a couple days a week, and could *greatly*
| reduce the amount of time the generator runs if I can find a
| good way of getting the refrigerator to stay cold longer. Are
| there any good cold packs for keeping refrigerators cold,
| that can be re-frozen over and over again?
|
| Thanks for any help!
| David

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 21:43:59 GMT, "David H. Lipman"
wrote:

Obtain Dry Ice and place in fridge.

Dave

A nice option, but dry ice tends to be better for keeping things
frozen, rather than refrigerated.

Also need to vent.

Dry ice seems to be hard to find outside of big cities, but a dockside
boating supplier might be a special case.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

You could convert to a gas (propane or kerosene) refrigerator, It may be
less expensive than generator power, and will run while under way. If you
use gas for cooking, it would not be too inconvenient.

Combination gas/electrics are also available.
http://www.gasrefrigerator.net/
(for examples)

Have you considered running your power on a timer, so the beer is only
chilled for say, 12 hours before you come aboard?


Pepperoni



wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a large refrigerator on a houseboat, and don't want to
replace it with a less convenient one since the vast majority
of the time it's connected to AC shore power at the dock. I
like to go out for a couple days a week, and could *greatly*
reduce the amount of time the generator runs if I can find a
good way of getting the refrigerator to stay cold longer. Are
there any good cold packs for keeping refrigerators cold,
that can be re-frozen over and over again?

Thanks for any help!
David

Hello there Pepper, what you doing getting ready for the Capital trip on
9/12, keep the beer cold. Hoppie

Pepperoni wrote:

You could convert to a gas (propane or kerosene) refrigerator, It may be
less expensive than generator power, and will run while under way. If you
use gas for cooking, it would not be too inconvenient.

Combination gas/electrics are also available.
http://www.gasrefrigerator.net/
(for examples)

Have you considered running your power on a timer, so the beer is only
chilled for say, 12 hours before you come aboard?

Pepperoni

wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a large refrigerator on a houseboat, and don't want to
replace it with a less convenient one since the vast majority
of the time it's connected to AC shore power at the dock. I
like to go out for a couple days a week, and could *greatly*
reduce the amount of time the generator runs if I can find a
good way of getting the refrigerator to stay cold longer. Are
there any good cold packs for keeping refrigerators cold,
that can be re-frozen over and over again?

Thanks for any help!
David

You could convert to a gas (propane or kerosene) refrigerator, It may be
less expensive than generator power, and will run while under way. If you
use gas for cooking, it would not be too inconvenient.

Combination gas/electrics are also available.
http://www.gasrefrigerator.net/
(for examples)

Have you considered running your power on a timer, so the beer is only
chilled for say, 12 hours before you come aboard?


Pepperoni



wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a large refrigerator on a houseboat, and don't want to
replace it with a less convenient one since the vast majority
of the time it's connected to AC shore power at the dock. I
like to go out for a couple days a week, and could *greatly*
reduce the amount of time the generator runs if I can find a
good way of getting the refrigerator to stay cold longer. Are
there any good cold packs for keeping refrigerators cold,
that can be re-frozen over and over again?

Thanks for any help!
David